Kuwait, or State of Kuwait, an independent Arab sheikhdom on the Arabian Peninsula, in southwestern Asia. It lies at the head of the Persian Gulf and is bordered by Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Kuwait's area is 6,880 square miles (17,818 km 2 ).
The influence of Islamic and Arab culture on Kuwait's architecture, music, attire, cuisine and lifestyle is obvious. The most distinctive characteristic of local Kuwaiti culture are diwaniya. Briefly, it involves large reception rooms used for male social gatherings attended mostly by family members and close friends.
The State of Kuwait is a constitutional emirate with a parliamentary system of government. Kuwait gained independence from the UK on June 19, 1961.